Begonia plant named ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; numerous double flowers that are white and pink in color; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BBDRASOPI’

(U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/807,247)

Title: Begonia Plant Named ‘BBDRASUN’

(U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/807,248)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known as Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’.

The new Begonia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Begonia×hiemalis cultivar BBDRA, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,700. The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of ‘BBDRA’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands during the spring of 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, the Netherlands since the autumn of 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in cultural practices and environment conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Numerous double flowers that are white and pink in color.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the parent, ‘BBDRA’, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘BBDRA’ have light red-colored flowers. In addition, flower of plants of ‘BBDRA’ appear to be more “filled” than flowers of the new Begonia.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRASOPI’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/007,247, and plants of Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRASUN’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/007,248, in flower color as plants of ‘BBDRASOPI’ and pink-colored flowers and plants of ‘BBDRASUN’ have yellow and pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBTAM’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,800. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘BBTAM’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘BBTAM’ had salmon pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown during the spring and summer in 13-cm containers in a shaded glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands and grown under typical Begonia production practices. During the production of the plants day and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C. and maximum light levels were 18,000 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’. -   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of     Begonia×hiemalis ‘BBDRA’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,700. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at temperatures of 20°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 20 to 35 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous, white in             color; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Compact, upright and mounded plant habit,             inverted triangle; freely branching with good stem and stem             base strength; flowers are fully double and abundant;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Basal branch description.—Quantity: Freely basal branching             with about five to six basal branches developing per plant.             Length: About 9 cm to 13 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to 3 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:             About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Shape:             Roughly deltoid. Apex: Broadly obtuse. Base: Cordate to             oblique. Margin: Senate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 131A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 131C, venation, close to             131C. Petiole length: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Petiole diameter:             About 4 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 131C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals             arranged in axillary cymes; typically five to six open             flowers per cyme; many cymes in flower simultaneously;             flowers positioned upright and outwardly above the foliar             plane.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously             year round in the greenhouse, however plants flower earlier             and more abundantly during the summer in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity,             flowers last about four weeks on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Cyme height.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.         -   Cyme diameter.—About 6 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; rose-like. Diameter: About 4 cm to             5 cm. Depth: About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovate. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.             Diameter: About 2 cm. Color: Close to 52D.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity: About 10 to 15 per             flower. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About 3 cm to             4 cm. Shape: Obovate to rounded. Apex: Rounded, obtuse.             Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire to emarginate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Center tepals,             close to 155D; outer tepals, close to 52D. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Center tepals, close to 155D;             outer tepals, close to 52D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape:             Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144D and at the margins, close to 45C. Color, lower             surface: Close to 145B and at the margins, close to 45C.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: Erect to about 30° to 45° from vertical.             Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             144B.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from the peduncle. Length:             About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Reddish green.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Begonia has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BBDRAWHIBLU’ as illustrated and described. 